Bologna book fair, a stage of competition for children books illustrators

1394/02/20-12:04

Director of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Roberto Kini says the annual event actually serves as a stage of competition among illustrators of children books, adding usually over 3,000 illustrators from across the world send their works to the cultural event.

The Bologna book fair authority made the remarks in a panel discussion on children books illustration that was held on Saturday in the fairground of Tehran International Book Fair and was also joined by three Iranian illustrators, namely Samaneh Sharifi, Tahmineh Haddadi, and Ali Miri.

The director of the Bologna book fair said the international event features a get-together of illustrators of children books and their publishers.

Kini also appreciated the Bologna event as the most compliant cultural event in the world in terms of copyright and intellectual property.

The Bologna director said the annual event would celebrate its 50^th anniversary next year, adding that authorities at the cultural event, as a top agenda seek to have representatives of different styles of illustration to convene in the event

The director went on to say that every aspirant illustrator is supposed to submit five original works to the book fair, all made by hand, adding that the jury would focus on those works that show more creativity.

Kini said many illustrators have earned a reputation worldwide through the international event.

The Bologna fair director noted that aspirant illustrators younger than 30 may join the competition.

Next, Samaneh Sharifi reviewed a history of art in Europe and said the Bologna award has played a major role in the trend of illustration in Iran.

The Iranian illustrator then invited the Bologna book fair authority to inspect a children books illustration section at the TIBF fairground.

For his part, Ali Miri inquired Kini’s view about the possible weak points in the work of Iranian illustrators of children books.

“What is considered a weak point in a given country may not be considered a weak point for another country,” the Bologna authority maintained, adding no absolute answer could be provided for the query.